V S Naipaul: A Literary Giant, A Racist & A Misogynist
byNaipaul, the Nobel laureate, who evoked powerful debates with his writing, was in equal parts a racist & a misogynist.
Biography
The ‘Black Man’ In Britain’s House of Commons
byDadabhai Naoroji, the ‘Black Man’ in Britain’s house of commons, laid the foundations of Indian Independence.
Robert Mugabe: Liberator, Dictator & A Powerless Old Man
byRobert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s liberator turned dictator has a new avatar – that of a powerless old man.
Mother Teresa: The Social Entrepreneur & Saint
byMother Teresa, the Indian Saint from Albania, cared for the sick & dedicated her life to the service of the poor.
Willoughby Wallace Hooper: Photographer of Death
byAt what point does the photographer change roles from a documenter of tragedy to an indifferent bystander?
Kathavarayan & The Revival of Tamil Buddhism
byKathavarayan, known as Iyothee Thass, is one of the foremost thinkers & activists who fought for a caste-free society.
The Anti-Heroes & Romance of Bhāsa’s Plays
byIf you like Breaking Bad & Deadpool, you will love Bhāsa’s play-Svapnavāsavadattam, the oldest romantic novel of India.
Jean Francois Allard: Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Most Trusted French General
byMaharaja Ranjit Singh’s most faithful commander & trusted lieutenant was a Frenchman – General Jean Francois Allard.
Tana Shah: The Last Ruler Between Aurangzeb & The World
byThe Golconda fort in Hyderabad tells the tale of Tana Shah, the last Qutb Shahi ruler, who stood against Aurangzeb.
Bede Griffiths: The Catholic Sannyasi With An Oxford Accent
byBede Griffiths, a champion of interfaith dialogue, blended Vedanta and Advaitha with contemporary Catholic thought.
Bhimjee Parekh & The Printing Press
byBhimjee Parekh, the tycoon who introduced the printing press in India, led the merchant protest against Aurangzeb.
When Rabindranath Tagore Received the Nobel Prize
byIndia’s first Nobel Prize, awarded to Rabindranath Tagore, was stolen & never found; the Nobel Foundation gave two replicas.
Ikhlas Khan:The Abyssinian Who Ruled The Deccan
byIn the 16th-century, Ikhlas Khan, an Abyssinian slave, ruled the Deccan sultanate as the Prime Minister.
The Dutch Travel Writer Johan Nieuhof & The Oriental East
byThe Dutch traveller, Johan Nieuhof, left a repository of incredible drawings and writings that depict life in the Orient.
Yellapragada Subbarow: The Immigrant Scientist Who Served Humanity
by“You’ve probably never heard of Dr. Yellapragada SubbaRow. Yet, because he lived, you may be alive and well today.”